وَما شَيءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلى لَئيمٍ

وَما شَيءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلى لَئيمٍ

إِذا سَبَّ الكِرامَ مِنَ الجَوابِ

إِذا سَبَّ الكِرامَ مِنَ الجَوابِ

And nothing is dearer to a base man

And nothing to a villain is more dear

when he insults the noble, than a reply.

Than to abuse the noble, without fear.

مُتارَكَةُ اللَئيمِ بِلا جَوابٍ

مُتارَكَةُ اللَئيمِ بِلا جَوابٍ

أَشَدُّ عَلى اللَئيمِ مِنَ السِبابِ

أَشَدُّ عَلى اللَئيمِ مِنَ السِبابِ

Leaving the base man alone without a reply

To leave the villain's slanders unreplied

is harsher on the base man than verbal abuse.

Torments him more than any tongue has tried.